Spring Movie Preview: Your Guide To The Box Office This Semester

The new year started off with a bit of a slump, but the spring season is looking to be full of hits both critical and commercial. Chalk it up to a “Get Out” effect or just the fact that studios are trying to release as many Event-with-a-capital-E films as they can in one year, but it’s getting harder and harder to write off any time of the year as being slow for film.

Not only is this going to be one of the biggest February releases, but this is also going to be one of the biggest releases ever. It already has rave reviews across the board — unsurprising for a Marvel film, but this is so much more than a Marvel or superhero movie.

This is a reckoning. Ryan Coogler is one of the most exciting filmmakers working today, and he has put together a cast of both strong men and women sparking a new surge in the superhero-fare.

Also out this month …

Feb. 9: There is a reason Clint Eastwood’s career has spanned decades as he continues with an interesting twist on the ‘ripped from the headlines’ genre with “The 15:17 to Paris.”“Fifty Shades Freed” concludes the trilogy and those darned animals be crazy in “Peter Rabbit.”

Three films directed by women in the history of Hollywood have amassed a budget of $100+ million. Ava DuVernay is the first black woman to do so. Based on the classic Madeleine L’Engle novel of time traveling children and their accompanying peculiars—Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Whatsit—as they try to find a missing father who could be the key to saving the universe. This looks to be a visual treat full of adventure and excitement.

Also out this month …

March 2: Bruce Willis does his thing (that thing being killing people) in Eli Roth’s “Death Wish,”“Alpha” is essentially “The Covenant” meets “Marmaduke” and Jennifer Lawrence’s charisma is truly put to the test as she tries to maintain a Russian accent for 2-plus hours in “Red Sparrow.”

Jason Reitman, Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron come together again in a film that premiered to rave reviews at Sundance. Although their first film, “Young Adult” didn’t quite hit the mark with its black-as-night humor, this one looks to be as cutting with a bit more warmth.

Described as being about “motherhood in 2018,” it follows a mother of three as she attempts to survive her daily life. That is until a nanny, the titular Tully played by a fresh-faced Mackenzie Davis, comes to save the day. It looks to be another great showcase for Theron’s dramatic abilities and hopefully elevates Davis to a level she deserves.

April 20 will go down in the history books as being the best ever with the release of Dwayne Johnson’s absolute bonkers “Rampage,” the film every dude pretends to love is getting a sequel with “Super Troopers 2” and you bet I cried during the trailer for Helen Hunt’s “The Miracle Season.”

It’s been 10 years strong for the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. Six years ago in the first Avengers film, we were introduced to the big baddie Thanos, and all of that will finally come to a head in what is sure to be their biggest film, yet.

Superheros will die, and ties will be tested. And we still have the follow-up film to look forward to in 2019! Marvel always gives us consistently solid films, here’s hoping Infinity War is where they decide to truly become great.